Judge sentences Thomas, who started a long standoff in March

Marion County Sheriff's SWAT team member return after they capture Matthew Thomas, 18, for violating probation on an armed robbery charge at his girlfriend's mobile home in Eureka, FL on Thursday March 27, 2014. No one was injured in the day long stand off.

Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 7:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 7:41 p.m.

A judge on Tuesday sentenced Matthew Allison Thomas, 18, to 25 years in prison after his violation of probation/armed robbery case led to an eight-hour standoff with law enforcement earlier this year.

“He lied to the court, he got a furlough, and then he associated with someone who he was specifically instructed not to communicate with and they had to call the Sheriff's Office SWAT team out to capture the defendant,” Circuit Judge Hale Stancil said before imposing the sentence, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

Upon hearing the ruling, Thomas broke down in tears.

Minutes before, Thomas had told the judge: “I'm not a bad kid, I just made some bad decisions.” He told the judge he knows he needs to face the consequences.

The sentence only applies to the probation violation. As for the standoff, Thomas was charged with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing an officer and has been adjudicated guilty and sentenced to time served.

The violation case began with a plea agreement Thomas accepted in December for an armed robbery case. The deal called for three months of house arrest prior to a 10-year prison sentence.

Thomas had told Stancil his grandfather was sick and begged for a furlough before starting the sentence. The judge agreed.

After Thomas reported to probation officials he changed his address without getting prior approval and was not at his listed address when a sheriff's deputy went to find him.

The violations caused law enforcement to search for him in a Eureka mobile home that belonged to his girlfriend, Alaina Johnson. The encounter on March 27 became an eight-hour standoff.

Thomas refused to exit the residence and told officials he was armed. The Marion and Alachua county sheriff's SWAT teams and U.S. Marshal's Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force were involved in the incident, which concluded when officials found Thomas hiding between the mobile home's floor and the underlying insulation.

Tear gas and flash bangs were deployed, according to testimony at Tuesday's sentencing hearing.

While Thomas claimed to be armed, no real firearm was found after the arrest. Assistant State Attorney Tim McCourt told Stancil he believed Thomas possessed a flare gun that day.

According to McCourt, while Thomas was “on the run” he also committed a petty theft: stealing sandwiches from a grocery store. He also has a grand theft auto case pending. His accomplice in the petty theft was David Newmyer, who died in July after leading law enforcement on a high-speed, multi-county chase.

McCourt stated Thomas further violated the conditions of his release by coming into contact with then-girlfriend and robbery co-defendant Johnson, a fact to which Johnson took the stand and testified to during Tuesday's sentencing hearing.

“He was worried. He was scared,” Johnson testified.

“He didn't want to go to prison,” she told McCourt while crying.

Thomas testified that Johnson was the only person who could give him a ride to the probation office.

On cross-examination of Johnson, defense attorney Juan Lynum pointed out she suffers from anxiety and depression disorders. Johnson also testified Thomas had not been taking prescribed medication.

Lynum asked Johnson to tell the court about the good things she found in Thomas.

“He was like a father figure to my kids and I was using drugs and he got me off of drugs,” she said.

During the hearing, Thomas lowered his head several times and sniffled.

Thomas' mother and a friend, who testified during the sentencing hearing, described Thomas as intelligent --- a good kid who acts appropriately when taking his prescribed medication for ADHD but becomes non-compliant when he refuses. Someone who became angry after bottling up his feelings after being sexually molested at a young age.

McCourt pointed out multiple doctors had told Thomas to take his medication, but he failed to comply. He disregarded court orders in the past and lied under oath to a judge about his grandfather's health to persuade the court to give him a furlough.

<p>A judge on Tuesday sentenced Matthew Allison Thomas, 18, to 25 years in prison after his violation of probation/armed robbery case led to an eight-hour standoff with law enforcement earlier this year.</p><p>“He lied to the court, he got a furlough, and then he associated with someone who he was specifically instructed not to communicate with and they had to call the Sheriff's Office SWAT team out to capture the defendant,” Circuit Judge Hale Stancil said before imposing the sentence, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years.</p><p>Upon hearing the ruling, Thomas broke down in tears.</p><p>Minutes before, Thomas had told the judge: “I'm not a bad kid, I just made some bad decisions.” He told the judge he knows he needs to face the consequences. </p><p>The sentence only applies to the probation violation. As for the standoff, Thomas was charged with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing an officer and has been adjudicated guilty and sentenced to time served.</p><p>The violation case began with a plea agreement Thomas accepted in December for an armed robbery case. The deal called for three months of house arrest prior to a 10-year prison sentence.</p><p>Thomas had told Stancil his grandfather was sick and begged for a furlough before starting the sentence. The judge agreed.</p><p>After Thomas reported to probation officials he changed his address without getting prior approval and was not at his listed address when a sheriff's deputy went to find him. </p><p>The violations caused law enforcement to search for him in a Eureka mobile home that belonged to his girlfriend, Alaina Johnson. The encounter on March 27 became an eight-hour standoff.</p><p>Thomas refused to exit the residence and told officials he was armed. The Marion and Alachua county sheriff's SWAT teams and U.S. Marshal's Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force were involved in the incident, which concluded when officials found Thomas hiding between the mobile home's floor and the underlying insulation.</p><p>Tear gas and flash bangs were deployed, according to testimony at Tuesday's sentencing hearing.</p><p>While Thomas claimed to be armed, no real firearm was found after the arrest. Assistant State Attorney Tim McCourt told Stancil he believed Thomas possessed a flare gun that day.</p><p>According to McCourt, while Thomas was “on the run” he also committed a petty theft: stealing sandwiches from a grocery store. He also has a grand theft auto case pending. His accomplice in the petty theft was David Newmyer, who died in July after leading law enforcement on a high-speed, multi-county chase.</p><p> McCourt stated Thomas further violated the conditions of his release by coming into contact with then-girlfriend and robbery co-defendant Johnson, a fact to which Johnson took the stand and testified to during Tuesday's sentencing hearing.</p><p>“He was worried. He was scared,” Johnson testified.</p><p>“He didn't want to go to prison,” she told McCourt while crying.</p><p>Thomas testified that Johnson was the only person who could give him a ride to the probation office.</p><p>On cross-examination of Johnson, defense attorney Juan Lynum pointed out she suffers from anxiety and depression disorders. Johnson also testified Thomas had not been taking prescribed medication.</p><p>Lynum asked Johnson to tell the court about the good things she found in Thomas.</p><p>“He was like a father figure to my kids and I was using drugs and he got me off of drugs,” she said.</p><p>During the hearing, Thomas lowered his head several times and sniffled.</p><p>Thomas' mother and a friend, who testified during the sentencing hearing, described Thomas as intelligent --- a good kid who acts appropriately when taking his prescribed medication for ADHD but becomes non-compliant when he refuses. Someone who became angry after bottling up his feelings after being sexually molested at a young age. </p><p>McCourt pointed out multiple doctors had told Thomas to take his medication, but he failed to comply. He disregarded court orders in the past and lied under oath to a judge about his grandfather's health to persuade the court to give him a furlough.</p>